Don’t lay down tools when your needs are not met – Otumfuo to Teachers

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has tasked teachers to adopt an improved way of negotiation rather than resorting to strike whenever their concerns are not addressed.

He argued that school children are the ones who face the consequences of such actions and not politicians. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was addressing members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) at its 6th Quadrennial National Delegates conference in Kumasi.

On several occasions, teachers resort to industrial action when the government fails to address their grievances. This they maintain is the only and effective language the government understands.

Nonetheless, the Asantehene thinks otherwise saying obviously, those who really suffer are the innocent children. He therefore urged teachers to focus on the need for an improved way of negotiations and consultations which will minimize, if not eliminate, any recourse to industrial action and the harmful consequences to the sector.

A former President of the Presbyterian University College, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, adding his voice to the call, noted that strikes no longer serve as effective tools for negotiations.

He contended that industrial actions cannot work anymore for GNAT and its members.